Data Protection: ICESCO Calls on Member States to Develop their Legislation

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has called on its Member States to develop their legislation and ratify international conventions on the protection of personal data.

Speaking Tuesday in Rabat at an international conference on “Human Rights and the Digital Challenge,” held face-to-face and through video-conference by the ICESCO and the Ministry of State in charge of Human Rights and Relations with the Parliament in Morocco, the organization’s Director-General Salem Ben Mohamed AlMalik urged member countries to ratify international treaties on the fight against all forms of discrimination and violence against women, children and migrants, and against violent extremism, money laundering and cyber-crime.

In this context, he announced the creation of the “Human Rights and Digital Transformation” ICESCO Chair to promote measures aimed at assimilating the changes in the digital field.

ICESCO Director-General also highlighted that all the risks associated with modern technologies should not conceal their advantages in developing societies and ensuring human progress.

“Technology is an efficient tool in monitoring and anticipating potential violations to human rights. Our objective is to ensure a balance between technological development and the protection of rights and freedoms,” he said.

AlMalik also welcomed the steps taken by Morocco in the field of protection and promotion of human rights, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

In her address, Amina Bouayach, President of the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH), talked about the challenge of subjecting digital spaces to legal provisions, in light of the growing numbers of people accessing these spaces and the emergence of what is called new media.

The transnational digital revolution elaborated the forms of demanding rights in our societies, especially economic, social and cultural ones, and anchored the notion of social and territorial justice as a new concept, she said.

In similar remarks, President of the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection Omar Seghrouchni underlined the need to focus more on protecting citizens in the digital society rather than just protecting their personal data, stating that societies should shield themselves against international platforms whose sole interest in making a profit.

The international conference included three sessions addressing the topics: “Right of access to accurate information in cyberspace and the protection mechanisms of personal data,” “Hate, violent and discriminatory speech in the digital space: prevention mechanisms and protection tools,”and “Human rights and the digital challenge: actors’ roles.”

The event was attended by national and international experts as well as officials.